Improvement in construction of iron boats



J. "1. SMITH.-

consnwcnon OF man BOATS. N.o.182,719. Patented Sept. 26, 1.876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF IRON BO ATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 82,719, dated September 26, 1876; application filed September 2, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. SMITH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boats, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a side view of a boat containing my improvement. Fig. 2 is a crosssection thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 4 illustrates the mode of uniting the strips, on a larger scale than in the previous figures.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

My improvement relates to the construction of boats for life-saving and other purposes; and consists in'a series of metallic strips or plates which are provided with flanges on their upper and lower edges, the lower flange of one strip or plate being made to hug the top flange of the adjacent plate, and being fastened thereto by means of screws orrivets, in such a manner that a very tight joint is produced between the strips or plates, while I obtain a boat of great strength and durability.

In the drawing, the letter A designates a series of strips or plates, made of copper or other suitable metal, and on the upper and lower edges of which are formed flanges b. The flange situated on the top edge of the said strips A projects in an outer direction, while the one situated on the lower edge thereof projects inwardly. The bottom or inwardly-projecting flange b of one strip or plate is made to hug the top or outwardly-projecting flange of the next adjoining strip, as shown, and through the flanges are passed screws or rivets 0, whereby the several strips or plates are united with each other. The upper and lowermost strips A, respectively, are secured to a gunwale, D, and to a keel, E, in any suitable manner.

By the flanges b the strips 01' plates A are rendered stifi and capable of great resistance, and thereby, moreover, I am enabled to construct a boat of great strength out of comparatively light material. The said flanges b can be easily formed without danger of weakening the material of which the strips A are con1- posed.

WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A boat composed of metallic strips or plates A, which are provided with flanges b on their upper and lower edges, the bottom flange of each plate being made to fit beneath the top flange of the next adjoining plate, and being fastened thereto by means of screws or rivets c, passing through said flanges, substantially as shown and described.

. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of August, A. D. 1876.

JOHN T. SMITH. [L s.]

Witnesses:

JOHN VAN SAN'IVOORD, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

